São Paulo businesses and waste management face regulatory scrutiny

Legal concerns have been raised regarding Sabesp’s practice of applying a ‘polluting load’ tariff to commercial establishments across the state of São Paulo. Attorney Mariana Giriboni notes that while the tariff is legal for high-pollution industries, it is being applied indiscriminately to businesses that may not produce significant waste. Legally, such a charge requires a prior technical assessment by CETESB to confirm pollution levels, yet Sabesp is reportedly applying it automatically.

In Pirassununga, the municipal landfill faces a critical situation due to regulatory issues with CETESB. The facility has been operating without a valid license since September 2021, following the denial of a renewal request due to infrastructure failures and non-compliance with environmental conditions. The municipality has accumulated R$ 125,000 in fines, and there are reports that CETESB may issue a preventive embargo on the site, which would require domestic waste to be transferred to a licensed landfill.